Michigan using a Bryce Underwood-like pitch to 5-star WR high on the Wolverines

Nico Iamaleava was the first high school quarterback to sign the NIL mega-deal, but Michigan’s recruiting efforts to land Bryce Underwood far surpassed the supposed eight-million-dollar deal that Iamaleava originally inked with Tennessee. Now, the Wolverines are seemingly turning their attention and directing their financial might towards 2027 five-star wide receiver Monshun Sales. 

The 6-foot-5, 195-pound deep threat is the No. 12 overall player in the 2027 class according to 247Sports Composite, and the No. 3 wide receiver in the class. An Indianapolis native, Sherrone Moore is pushing hard to keep him in the Midwest and pair him with Underwood, who stayed home in Michigan. 

Michigan needs to add wide receiver talent around Bryce Underwood before its too late

The second Michigan put together that gargantuan NIL package to sway Bryce Underwood away from LSU, the clock started for Sherrone Moore and the program to put a national championship-caliber team around him. 

The defense hasn’t been on that level, the offensive line has fallen off from its peak under Jim Harbaugh, and even Moore himself should be under evaluation to determine if he’s the best option for the job. However, Michigan’s biggest problem in its five-star quarterback’s freshman campaign is the lack of high-level pass catchers to support him. 

Underwood has thrown for 1,526 yards and seven touchdowns to two interceptions with a 61.1 completion percentage. Relatively pedestrian numbers through the first eight games of the highly-touted freshman’s career. Those numbers would look much better, though, with a receiver corps that was better than the 12th-highest drop rate of any FBS QB this season. 

Michigan receivers have accounted for 16 drops. So while his completion percentage of just over 60 percent paints the picture of an inaccurate passer, his adjusted completion percentage of 72.9 percent ranks alongside some of the better QBs in the country, USF’s Byrum Brown and TCU’s Josh Hoover. 

Donoven McCulley has been a reliable target, catching 25 of his 43 targets for 378 yards and two scores, but the 6-foot-5 Indiana transfer is in his final season of eligibility. True freshman Andrew Marsh, who worked his way onto the field early in his career, looks to be a dynamic playmaker with plenty of potential, but he’ll need help on the outside. A 6-foot-5 vertical threat like Sales would be the perfect complement. 

The only issue with Michigan’s pursuit of Sales is that it could be too little too late. As a 2027 five-star, he’ll arrive in college for Underwood’s junior year, potentially his last before heading to the NFL, if he delivers on his massive potential. 

In recent years, we’ve seen breakthrough seasons from true freshmen like Jeremiah Smith and Ryan Williams in 2024 and Miami’s Malachi Toney in 2025. Still, it would be a lot to ask of Sales for an all-in season that could be Underwood’s last, unless the staff keys enough resources to add a proven veteran in the transfer portal.